Feds dispute 21 Prostitutes Tied to Secret Service Scandal

The DHS is disputing a senator’s claim Tuesday that Secret Service agents and members of the U.S. military brought as many as 21 women back to their hotel during their assignment to Colombia last week. Sen. Susan Collins, the top Republican on the Senate homeland security committee, cited that detail after she was briefed for a half-hour Monday night by Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan.

Collins learned that the marines along with 11 Secret Service agents now on administrative leave, were allegedly involved in the prostitution scandal. The DHS suggested that the reference to the number of women was based on a misunderstanding, though officials didn’t specify how many women actually were involved. But Collins’ office is standing by her statements.

“There was not a misunderstanding or mishearing,” spokeswoman Elizabeth Anderson said, adding that if officials need to correct their information, they can do so.

So far, there are 21 personnel, the 11 Secret Service agents and 10 military servicemembers whom are suspected n the prostitution scandal, which came to light late last week during preparations for President Obama’s trip to Colombia. and Fox News has learned that the suspects include Army Special Forces personnel, two Marines, two members of a Navy ordnance disposal unit and one Air Force member.

All have been accused of having women in their rooms. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said Tuesday that Sullivan is seeking an independent investigation from the agency’s inspector general.

The senator also questioned whether the incident indicates “a problem with the culture of the Secret Service” and whether the men could have been compromised by their alleged behavior.

“Who were these women? Could they have been members of groups hostile to the United States? Could they have planted bugs, disabled weapons, or in any others jeopardized security of the president or our country?” she said, referring to questions she raised with Sullivan. Fox News

Already the 11 Secret Service agents have had their clearances revoked. And now the Pentagon is investigating those military suspects.

“I can speak for myself and … my fellow chiefs, we’re embarrassed by what occurred in Colombia,” Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a news conference. “Several of our members distracted the issue from what was a very important regional engagement for our president.”

Federal law enforcement personnel and a congressional committee are anxiously awaiting an overdue inspector general’s report that they believe may reveal the involvement of two White House advance team members in the Secret Service prostitution scandal in Colombia earlier this year.